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NFL Draft Prospect Videos and MoreSun, 02 Aug 2015 18:23:06 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.32016 NFL Draft Prospect Preview: Arizona Wildcatshttp://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-prospect-preview-arizona-wildcats/
http://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-prospect-preview-arizona-wildcats/#commentsFri, 31 Jul 2015 12:21:52 +0000http://draftbreakdown.com/?p=256343After stumbling badly during a three year coaching stint with the Michigan Wolverines, Rich Rodriguez landed on his feet at Arizona. After back-to-back 8-5 seasons, The 2014 Wildcats started on a 5-0 run that included a stunning upset on the road at then-second ranked Oregon. Arizona lost to USC the following week, and UCLA three weeks later, but Rich Rod’s team rattled off four straight victories down the stretch to earn a shot to face the Ducks for the Pac 12 title. The rematch ended in a disastrous 51-13 defeat for the ‘Cats, and perhaps demoralized, they fell behind early and ultimately lost the Fiesta Bowl to Boise State. On the surface, Arizona’s season ended in disappointment, but their 26 wins in three seasons under Rodriguez is the best three-year stretch in team history. Record-breaking quarterback Anu Solomon returns as the starter, fellow sophomore sensation Nick Wilson will handle (read more...)]]>After stumbling badly during a three year coaching stint with the Michigan Wolverines, Rich Rodriguez landed on his feet at Arizona. After back-to-back 8-5 seasons, The 2014 Wildcats started on a 5-0 run that included a stunning upset on the road at then-second ranked Oregon. Arizona lost to USC the following week, and UCLA three weeks later, but Rich Rod’s team rattled off four straight victories down the stretch to earn a shot to face the Ducks for the Pac 12 title. The rematch ended in a disastrous 51-13 defeat for the ‘Cats, and perhaps demoralized, they fell behind early and ultimately lost the Fiesta Bowl to Boise State. On the surface, Arizona’s season ended in disappointment, but their 26 wins in three seasons under Rodriguez is the best three-year stretch in team history. Record-breaking quarterback Anu Solomon returns as the starter, fellow sophomore sensation Nick Wilson will handle the lead running back duties, and reigning Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year Scooby Wright will look to add to his trophy case. Here’s a look at Wright, Solomon and the rest of the 2016 NFL Draft-eligible Wildcats suiting up this fall. (Asterisks denote underclassmen)

Two years after coming to Arizona as a lightly-regarded recruit, Phillip “Scooby” Wright III put together one of the most statistically productive defensive seasons in recent college football history. His sophomore totals of 29 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles led the FBS ranks, and he was near the top of the leader boards for tackles and sacks. It seemed viewers couldn’t watch five minutes of an Arizona football game without hearing Wright’s name called in glowing admiration, and his eye-popping numbers propelled him to an impressive haul in awards season. Wright was a First Team all-conference and All-American selection, he was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year, and he took home the Bednarik, Nagurski and Lombardi Awards. Despite the dazzling numbers and the mantle full of trophies, Wright has his critics. Perhaps his hair-on-fire playing style lends itself to criticism for being out of position, or to questions about his overall athleticism, but Wright practically lives around the ball and there’s simply no denying the impact he makes behind the line of scrimmage. The occasional over-aggressive mistake can be erased or at least mitigated by the volume of lost offensive yardage his plays create. And Wright’s pre-draft testing in the 40, shuttles, and jumps is likely to surprise and quiet some of his detractors. The junior linebacker could possibly stand to play a more controlled game, but playmakers often have to take risks, and Wright should be hesitant to make adjustments that go against his natural instincts. He will be hard-pressed to top, or even duplicate last season’s spectacular efforts, but he should be a force on the Wildcats’ defense again this fall. Barring a setback, Wright is a good candidate to receive an early round daft grade and declare a year early.

Last season, Solomon became the first Arizona freshman quarterback to start a season opener, and he posted 425 passing yards and four TDs in a 58-13 rout of UNLV. Against Cal in Week Four, he attempted a whopping 73 passes for a school-record 520 yards and five touchdowns. Then, a week and a half later, Solomon’s gutsy performance was instrumental to the surprise win over Oregon. On the season, he posted four 300+ yard passing games, four games with at least four TD passes, and he led all FBS freshmen in net passing yards. 2014 wasn’t all gravy though. Solomon was an inaccurate mess against UCLA, and over the final five games of the season he completed just 53.6% for three scores and four interceptions, and he ran 50 times for -13 yards (Note: sacks are included in NCAA rushing totals). Perhaps he hit a rookie wall, but he’ll need to be closer to his early-season self if the ‘Cats are going to really contend this year. Rodriguez has expressed confidence in Solomon’s work ethic and competitive nature, and the third-year sophomore enters 2015 as the unchallenged starter. While he isn’t likely to declare for the 2016 draft, another big season – this time minus the rough patch – will put him squarely on the radar of scouts everywhere next summer.

Cayleb Jones WR 6’3” 215*

Four-star recruit out of Austin, TX in 2012

Honorable Mention All-Pac 12 last season

2014 Stats: 73 REC 1019 YDS 14.0 AVG 9 TD receiving, 1 KR TD

Jones played 12 games as a freshman for Texas in 2012, but left Austin after being arrested for assaulting a men’s tennis player. Jones eventually pled no-contest to a misdemeanor assault charge as he sat out the 2013 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Finally back on the field last year as a third-year sophomore, the big receiver emerged as the team’s top target despite the return from injury of 2012 go-to guy Austin Hill. To this point, Jones’ off-field problem appears to be an isolated incident, and unlikely to hold him back in the eyes of most pro teams. He’ll be the top playmaker in the passing game again this year, and considering the flood of underclassmen receivers who’ve entered the draft in recent years, Jones is a good candidate to leave a year of eligibility on the table and turn pro.

Other Players to Watch:

Will Parks S 6’1” 194

Three-star recruit out of Philadelphia, PA in 2012

2014 Stats: 81 TKL 13 TFL 1 SCK 2 INT 8 PBU

Parks started four games as a sophomore in 2012, before becoming a full-timer last season. He finished second on the team in tackles for loss and pass breakups, indicating comfort playing close to the line of scrimmage and covering deep down the field. Arizona safeties often function similar to linebackers, but Parks has size and ball skills that will interest pro scouts regardless of his school’s unconventional defensive alignment.

Reggie Gilbert DE 6’4” 262

Three-star recruit out of Laveen, AZ in 2011

2014 Stats: 49 TKL 5.5 TFL 3 SCK 1 QBH 1 FF 1 PBU

Gilbert has made 34 starts and logged 10.5 sacks to this point in his career. He will be back for a fifth season this fall after being given an injury redshirt to account for missing all but six games as a freshman.

Cayman Bundage G 6’2” 281

Three-star recruit out of Oklahoma City, OK in 2012

Bundage has logged 25 starts at left guard over the past two seasons. As an undersized interior lineman, he could be worked out at center during the pre-draft season, but isn’t likely to be drafted.

David Richards WR 6’4” 213

Three-star recruit out of Palmdale, CA in 2011

2014 Stats: 23 REC 211 YDS 9.2 AVG 1 TD

Richards redshirted in 2011 and has amassed 67 catches and five touchdowns in 35 games, including 13 starts, in three seasons since. He is likely to see his role in the offense expand this season.

Freddie Tagaloa OT 6’8” 316

Four-star recruit out of Richmond, CA 2012

Tagaloa transferred to Arizona after starting seven games and seeing time at right and left tackle in two seasons at Cal. He sat out last year due to NCAA transfer guidelines, and will be given a chance to earn a job in the starting lineup this fall.

]]>http://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-prospect-preview-arizona-wildcats/feed/02016 NFL Draft Prospect Preview: Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajunshttp://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-prospect-preview-louisiana-lafayette-ragin-cajuns/
http://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-prospect-preview-louisiana-lafayette-ragin-cajuns/#commentsFri, 31 Jul 2015 02:14:54 +0000http://draftbreakdown.com/?p=256340Under Head Coach Mark Hudspeth the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns have rolled to four straight 9-4 seasons, and have ended each of those years with wins in the New Orleans Bowl. Despite all of the victories, the team has yet to win an outright Sun Belt championship, though their 7-1 conference record last season was the best in the program’s history. Hudspeth is bound to attract attention from a more illustrious university one of these years, but he’s back commanding the Cajuns for at least one more run. If this year’s squad is to equal or surpass the successes of previous versions, the coach will need to find capable replacements for departed starting quarterback Terrance Broadway, and star defensive linemen Christian Ringo and Justin Hamilton. Luckily, Hudspeth has two electrifying playmakers returning on the offense. Here’s a look at the 2016 NFL Draft-eligible Cajuns, including the 2014 conference Player of the (read more...)]]>Under Head Coach Mark Hudspeth the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns have rolled to four straight 9-4 seasons, and have ended each of those years with wins in the New Orleans Bowl. Despite all of the victories, the team has yet to win an outright Sun Belt championship, though their 7-1 conference record last season was the best in the program’s history. Hudspeth is bound to attract attention from a more illustrious university one of these years, but he’s back commanding the Cajuns for at least one more run. If this year’s squad is to equal or surpass the successes of previous versions, the coach will need to find capable replacements for departed starting quarterback Terrance Broadway, and star defensive linemen Christian Ringo and Justin Hamilton. Luckily, Hudspeth has two electrifying playmakers returning on the offense. Here’s a look at the 2016 NFL Draft-eligible Cajuns, including the 2014 conference Player of the Year.

McGuire is appointment television for college football fans. He stepped onto the field as a freshman and made an immediate impact, finishing the 2013 season with 863 rushing yards (8.4 yards per carry), 22 catches for 384 yards (17.5 yards per reception), and 11 total touchdowns. His dazzling performance earned him First Team All-Sun Belt and conference Freshman of the Year honors. McGuire was even better last season, piling up 1732 total yards from scrimmage and 16 scores, bringing his career total to 27 touchdowns in 26 games. He returns for his junior year as a two-time First Team all-conference player, and the reigning Sun Belt Offensive and overall Player of the Year. McGuire has added over 20 pounds to his frame since he stepped on campus, and checks in now at a solid 208 pounds. At the line of scrimmage he runs low and with explosiveness; and in the open field he shows quick feet to make defenders miss, and breakaway speed to pull away for big plays. To top it off, McGuire has shown the ability to run pass routes like a receiver. He has averaged 8.9 yards per play from scrimmage – a truly incredible number for a high volume running back – and he’s also able to return punts and kickoffs if needed. With power back Alonzo Harris having graduated, McGuire’s load is sure to increase in 2015, and another big year may be enough to send him packing for the NFL. In that case, his power, speed, receiving prowess, and outstanding productivity could land him in the draft’s second day.

Jamal Robinson WR 6’4” 205

Three-star recruit out of Slidell, LA in 2011

2014 Stats: 15 REC 260 YDS 17.3 AVG 4 TD

As a sophomore in 2012, Robinson emerged as a big play threat, amassing 630 receiving yards on just 26 catches (24.2 yards per reception). In 2013, he was named Second Team All-Sun Belt after a 54 catch-862 yard-eight TD season. The senior receiver was off to a fast start last year, but meniscus and foot injuries kept him out of all but four games. At the conclusion of the season, Robinson was granted a medical hardship waiver, allowing him a redo of his senior year. He presents a big, strong target, and has been a reliable downfield and red zone threat. Through 30 career games, Robinson has averaged an eye-popping 18.4 yards per catch and has averaged a touchdown every other game. He’ll be breaking in a new quarterback this season, but Robinson figures to be the second most important player on the offense after McGuire.

Other Players to Watch:

Darzil Washington OLB 6’3” 243

Three-star recruit out of Edgard, LA in 2011

2014 Stats: 22 TKL 6 TFL 5 SCK 1 FF and 1 blocked kick in 10 games

The well-traveled Washington originally attended Texas A&M and redshirted in 2011, played his freshman season at Eastern Arizona College in the Juco ranks, and then moved on to East Los Angeles College as a sophomore in 2013. He finished second on the Ragin’ Cajuns in sacks last season, and he’ll be counted on to help provide pass rushing and an emotional presence on the defense this year.

Mykhael Quave OT 6’5” 294

Two-star recruit out of Moss Point, MS in 2011

Quave redshirted in 2011, started 13 games at left guard the following year, and has settled in as the starting left tackle for the past 26 games.

Octravian Anderson OT 6’4” 295

Two-star recruit out of Shreveport, LA in 2011

Anderson is a veteran lineman who has made 26 consecutive starts at right tackle over the past two seasons.

Tunsil mans the left tackle spot for the Rebels, with an emphasis on “man”. He’s a very high-end prospect, but even a Ferrari needs tuning up. There are a couple of areas where I would like to see Tunsil improve in his final season in the physical, demanding SEC West.

Rules of Engagement It’s not often an offensive lineman’s exceptional athleticism is a negative, but for the rising junior it creates an awkward critique. Tunsil is great at getting out into space as a run blocker, but he has some struggles engaging defenders once he’s out there.

Here’s an example from the LSU game.

Tunsil does a very good job in holding at the line on the initial action. Many tackles like to cheat a bit and (read more...)]]>

Tunsil mans the left tackle spot for the Rebels, with an emphasis on “man”. He’s a very high-end prospect, but even a Ferrari needs tuning up. There are a couple of areas where I would like to see Tunsil improve in his final season in the physical, demanding SEC West.

Rules of Engagement
It’s not often an offensive lineman’s exceptional athleticism is a negative, but for the rising junior it creates an awkward critique. Tunsil is great at getting out into space as a run blocker, but he has some struggles engaging defenders once he’s out there.

Here’s an example from the LSU game.

Tunsil does a very good job in holding at the line on the initial action. Many tackles like to cheat a bit and leave right away to get out as far and fast as they can. He doesn’t do that, and that helps sell the trickery in the backfield.

It’s out in space where Tunsil can get better. There is no problem with his athleticism or footwork or speed. All of those look fantastic here.

Unfortunately, all that athletic prowess accomplishes nothing. Tunsil fails to engage any of three potential targets in space. Sure, it’s well down the field and the play is a big gain. It could have been even bigger if Tunsil connected with a block. He was in great position.

It happens closer to the line, too. Like this play from later on in the first quarter against LSU:

Tunsil clears into the second level with graceful ease, but once away from the tight formation he simply cannot find his blocking assignment. There were several examples like this one in the Mississippi State game as well.
This might look familiar to Texans fans, who watched Duane Brown display similarly excellent athleticism only to struggle to put it to proper use in space. Brown has improved at this from his days at Virginia Tech, and I suspect Tunsil will too.

Durability
Everyone knows how Tunsil’s sensational sophomore season ended. A broken fibula suffered in the Peach Bowl loss to TCU caused Tunsil to miss all of spring football.

It was a fluke injury; quarterback Bo Wallace fell on him from behind. That can happen to anyone and it should be treated as simple rotten luck. However, Tunsil has had some other injury issues throughout his Ole Miss career.
He missed two games, and parts of a third, after suffering a biceps injury against LSU last fall. Tunsil also missed the bowl game following his freshman campaign after tweaking a knee a month earlier against Mississippi State.

Soft tissue injuries are a different animal than broken bones. Teams will be watching him closely to see if he’s fully recovered from the ankle and leg issue, but also to see if the rest of his body can handle the rigors of a 13-game season. It would be nice to see him play a full slate without missing a drive due to any injury issues.

In his favor, Tunsil bounced back from the biceps injury and played a fantastic game against second-round pick Preston Smith and a very talented Mississippi State defense. Teams have shown a willingness to overlook some history of minor injuries as long as the high-ceiling talent justifies the risk. Tunsil certainly offers that potential; he’s the best overall underclassmen tackle I’ve seen since Joe Thomas.

One issue I’m not overly concerned with his is June arrest for domestic violence against his stepfather. All accounts indicate Tunsil was standing up for his mother. It bears deeper investigation by NFL scouts but shouldn’t be more than a minor blip. He also is the subject of an NCAA investigation about potential contact with an agent stemming from allegations from the same stepfather. It’s on the flagpole but right now is colorless and not raised off the ground.

]]>http://draftbreakdown.com/laremy-tunsil-room-to-improve/feed/02016 NFL Draft Prospect Preview: Notre Dame Fighting Irishhttp://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-prospect-preview-notre-dame-fighting-irish/
http://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-prospect-preview-notre-dame-fighting-irish/#commentsTue, 28 Jul 2015 16:20:02 +0000http://draftbreakdown.com/?p=256195In 2012, in Head Coach Brian Kelly’s third season with the team, and with redshirt freshman quarterback Everett Golson at the helm, Notre Dame completed an undefeated regular season and faced Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. Though the Fighting Irish lost by a wide margin, Golson had three seasons of eligibility remaining, and there was reason to believe the team would be back in the title hunt soon. Then, the following spring, Golson was suspended from school for cheating on a test, and was ultimately forced to sit out all of 2013. Notre Dame turned to Tommy Rees, and managed to pull off a couple of big upset wins, but the entire team’s performance was uneven from week to week. The Irish finished the regular season 8-4 and fell from championship game berth to Pinstripe Bowl. Golson paid his dues and was allowed back last season. He reclaimed (read more...)]]>In 2012, in Head Coach Brian Kelly’s third season with the team, and with redshirt freshman quarterback Everett Golson at the helm, Notre Dame completed an undefeated regular season and faced Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. Though the Fighting Irish lost by a wide margin, Golson had three seasons of eligibility remaining, and there was reason to believe the team would be back in the title hunt soon. Then, the following spring, Golson was suspended from school for cheating on a test, and was ultimately forced to sit out all of 2013. Notre Dame turned to Tommy Rees, and managed to pull off a couple of big upset wins, but the entire team’s performance was uneven from week to week. The Irish finished the regular season 8-4 and fell from championship game berth to Pinstripe Bowl. Golson paid his dues and was allowed back last season. He reclaimed his starting job and led his squad to a 6-0 start, but after a heartbreaking loss to Florida State, the wheels fell off. The Irish beat Navy the following week, but then dropped four in a row. Golson was benched during a blowout loss to USC, finished the season with 22 turnovers, and was supplanted as the starter by Malik Zaire in Notre Dame’s bowl appearance. Now, Golson has transferred to FSU, and Zaire has the job locked down. The redshirt sophomore QB inherits a team with high-end talent on both sides of the ball. The Irish return 19 starters for 2015, and have a number of legitimate NFL Draft-eligible prospects. Here’s a look.

Stanley saw playing time as a reserve in two games as a true freshman in 2012, but an elbow injury requiring surgery ended his season prematurely. He moved into the starting lineup at right tackle the following year, and moved to left tackle last season after Zack Martin graduated. Stanley was outstanding in pass protection last year, a bright spot on a turnover-prone offense, and as his legend grew late in the season, he seriously considered declaring for the draft. Ultimately, Stanley opted to return, and the fourth-year junior (he was given a medical redshirt for his abbreviated 2012) begins the season as a top-five prospect on many early draft boards.

Smith was a very highly-touted recruit, and has been a full-time starter for the Irish since setting foot on campus. As a true sophomore last season, he led the team in tackles and tackles for loss, and was an Associated Press Second Team All-American selection. Smith is a terrific athlete and a heavy hitter, adept at making plays at or behind the line of scrimmage, and he’s got the sideline-to-sideline speed required for pass coverage responsibilities. Thus far he’s lived up to his lofty recruiting status. The positional value of non-pass rushing linebackers has been difficult to calculate in recent years, but Smith is one of the most talented in the country, and he’s a likely first round draft choice should he opt to leave school a year early.

After serving as a backup his freshman season, Day has started 19 games over the past two years, often lining up all along the line of scrimmage. An undersized lineman who lacks the height and arm length to play the edge with regularity, and who’s missing the bulk desired on the interior, Day is at his best using his quickness and leverage to get pressure up the middle. While he doesn’t have the numbers suggestive of a dynamic pass rusher, Day is able to consistently penetrate the backfield and disrupt the action. Ideally he will finish more of these plays, collecting sacks instead of hurries, but even then, the NFL was lukewarm on similar interior line prospects this past year. Day will also face scrutiny for an injury history that includes missing two games in 2013 with a bum ankle, and two more late last season with a knee issue. The bottom line is that Day is a very good player who is at his best creating pressure from the inside out, but who will probably be viewed as a mid-round, rotational piece at the NFL level.

Robinson flashed go-to guy ability as a sophomore last season, but much of his production came from two big games. The junior receiver’s father is NBA Hall of Fame center David Robinson, so Corey is a predictably gifted athlete with excellent size and strong hands. He should see plenty of red zone opportunities and an increase in targets across the board in 2015.

Russell totaled three interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 26 starts over his first two years at Notre Dame before sitting out the entire 2014 season due to an investigation related to academic fraud. He’s expected back this season, and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Fuller tied a school record for receiving touchdowns last season, and led the team in catches and receiving yards. Still, he probably isn’t the best NFL pass catching prospect on the team, and may even see his numbers drop off in 2015. Fuller has shown high-end deep speed, but is smaller and slimmer than the ideal go-to, NFL receiver. His numbers suggest that he’s a candidate to declare for the draft, but his build says “four years of college.” Chances are Fuller will be back with the Irish in 2016.

Through five games, Folston was averaging just 3.9 yards per carry and had yet to find the end zone, but he scored seven touchdowns and averaged 107 yards from scrimmage in eight games down the stretch. The junior running back will handle the bulk of the carries from start to finish this year, and may consider a leap to the pros if all goes well.

Ishaq Williams DE 6’5 1/2” 271

Five-star recruit out of Brooklyn, NY in 2011

Williams logged just one sack and six tackles for loss in 35 career games before being suspended for the entire 2014 season for his role in an academic fraud issue. While he is currently back in classes at Notre Dame, his football eligibility is still hanging in the balance as of this writing.

Martin is the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys guard and Notre Dame grad Zack Martin. Nick started 11 games at center as a redshirt sophomore in 2013 before his season was cut short by a knee injury. He started three games at center last year before sliding over and starting the last 10 at left guard. Martin is expected back at center in 2015, but his versatility and adaptability won’t be forgotten during draft season.

Matthias Farley S 5’11” 205

Three-star recruit out of Charlotte, NC in 2011

2014 Stats: 53 TKL 6.5 TFL 3.5 SCK 2 QBH 4 INT 1 PBU

Farley redshirted in 2011 but has made 23 starts in 38 games over the past three seasons. He has experience lining up at cornerback and safety.

Romeo Okwara DE 6’4” 260

Three-star recruit out of Charlotte, NC in 2012

2014 Stats: 39 TKL 4 TFL 3 SCK 1 FF 1 PBU

After serving as a backup and special teamer for his first two years on campus, Okwara made 12 starts for the Irish last season and is expected back in the starting lineup this year.

Max Redfield S 6’1” 198*

Five-star recruit out of Mission Viejo, CA in 2013

2014 Stats: 68 TKL 0.5 TFL 1 INT 2 PBU

Redfield started 11 games last season but was banished to special teams duty for two games late in the year after his defense hit a rough patch. He rebounded with an impressive spring, and will get another chance to live up to his recruiting status this fall.

Joe Schmidt LB 6’ 1/2” 235

Unrecruited out of Santa Ana, CA in 2011

Named team MVP last season

2014 Stats: 65 TKL 0.5 TFL 3 QBH 2 FF 2 INT 1 PBU

Schmidt walked on at Notre Dame and redshirted in 2011. After serving as a reserve and special teamer early in his college career, he finally earned a spot in the starting lineup last season. Schmidt was leading the team in tackles through eight games when fate took a brutal turn and he was sidelined for the remainder of the year with a fractured and dislocated ankle. The veteran linebacker was cleared for non-contact drills in the spring, and should be ready to go this season. Schmidt is a valued leader, whose determination and special teams experience should at least get him a tryout or two at the pro level.

For weeks it seemed Kelly couldn’t bother to even attempt to hide his disgust for Golson’s turnover-prone ways. Still, the decision to hand Zaire his first career start against LSU in the Music City Bowl came as a surprise. The decision paid off with a win, and the redshirt sophomore ultimately helped push Golson out the door. Zaire isn’t likely to declare for next spring’s draft, but if he can take the next step with his passing production, he’s certain to generate buzz in the scouting community heading into 2016.

Chris Brown WR 6’1 1/2″ 195

Three-star recruit out of Hanahan, SC in 2012

2014 Stats: 39 REC 548 YDS 14.1 1 TD

Brown finished second on the team in receiving yards last season, but his production has resulted in just two touchdowns in 37 career games.

Elijah Shumate S 6′ 213

Four-star recruit out of East Orange, NJ in 2012

2014 Stats: 66 TKL 2.5 TFL 1 SCK 2 QBH 1 INT 4 PBU

Shumate has made 15 starts over the past two seasons including 11 last year.

One of the key attributes I look for when scouting a player is year-to-year development. Players should improve at one thing or another as they gain experience and mature as athletes.

Mississippi defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche is one to watch closely in 2015. The former top recruit out of Georgia has two seasons under his belt for the Rebels, one at defensive end and one at tackle. Nkemdiche has flashed impressive skills at both positions, though his meager production (four career sacks) raises an eyebrow.

If Nkemdiche is going to live up to the hype as a potential Top-10 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft–presuming he declares early–he has a lot of work to do on his game. Specifically, I found three areas of focus where I want to see the 6’4”, 296-pound preseason All-American develop as an NFL prospect.

One of the key attributes I look for when scouting a player is year-to-year development. Players should improve at one thing or another as they gain experience and mature as athletes.

Mississippi defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche is one to watch closely in 2015. The former top recruit out of Georgia has two seasons under his belt for the Rebels, one at defensive end and one at tackle. Nkemdiche has flashed impressive skills at both positions, though his meager production (four career sacks) raises an eyebrow.

If Nkemdiche is going to live up to the hype as a potential Top-10 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft–presuming he declares early–he has a lot of work to do on his game. Specifically, I found three areas of focus where I want to see the 6’4”, 296-pound preseason All-American develop as an NFL prospect.

Perpendicularity

One of the issues he faces is that Ole Miss plays him inside at defensive tackle, where he’s consistently facing off against guards. Nkemdiche doesn’t have the lower body strength or sheer mass to handle those behemoths. He appears to know this, and he tries to compensate with a rather strange technique. You can see it in this little clip from the Alabama game:

Nkemdiche loves to turn his shoulders perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, as well as the offensive lineman (or men) trying to block him. In theory it makes sense; he’s providing a smaller target to engage and because he’s quicker afoot than the plodding guards, it gives Nkemdiche better angles to attack.

In practice? Not so much. Part of the issue is that he doesn’t do anything with his hands. In the clip above, he has the ability to get his left shoulder into the blocker’s pads and control the leverage. Instead of firing his arm and following with his shoulder and hips, he simply trots along with his arm at his side in a position of weakness. He has allowed the blocker to dictate the action, and that’s not what NFL evaluators want to see.

He also tries an awkward plant step at times, which is even less effective. There are several instances where he turns that shoulder and then attempts to anchor, as if he’s trying to use the blocker’s leverage and momentum against him. Nkedimche often arches his back as part of this, which is a “tell” that he just doesn’t have the base strength to handle the stronger opponent. Chiefs fans have seen this with Eric Fisher, as a next-level example. Here’s a clip from the Mississippi State game of his plant move gone awry:

He’s easily washed by one blocker here. Notice his back leg skidding as he tries to anchor with it? Nkemdiche either needs to get a lot more sand in the pants or else ditch this move, because it doesn’t work in college. NFL linemen will be even bigger and stronger.

Turning 90 degrees to the person(s) trying to bury you into the ground is a gimmicky move that should be used sparingly, as part of a broader repertoire. Nick Fairley is a guy who does this with some success in the NFL, but he excels at following the initial turn with quick violence. That is not in Nkemdiche’s arsenal yet. If he can develop that while gaining more functional strength, he could become a much more impactful pass rusher at any of the 3-5 technqiues as well as a more disruptive force against the run game.

Superfluity

Another highly desirable trait NFL scouts look for is the economy of motion in a player. The less wasted time and energy, the better. Nkemdiche generally does well here as a pass rusher…with one notable exception. He loves his spin move a little too much.

The master of the superfluous spin move was Aaron Maybin at Penn State. I’ll never forget him trying to rush Jake Long at Michigan. Twice in their matchup Maybin did a complete spin before even contacting Long. The savvy tackle waited for him to finish his rotation and chucked him to the turf like he was a bag of flour. This also happened to Maybin in his final game for the Nittany Lions, a devastating loss to USC in the Rose Bowl.

I’m not saying Nkemdiche reminds me of Maybin–one of the most patently obvious to predict busts in NFL history–in any terms of overall skill or potential, but his spin move produces the same results a little too often.

First, he uses it entirely too much. I watched 7 Ole Miss games over the last two seasons focusing on the end-turned-tackle and saw him try some variant of his spin move 46 times (yes, I counted). That’s over six times per game. I wanted to scream at him like on The Price Is Right game, “That’s too much!” especially for an interior guy.

Some of the spins work out well, though I only noted one play in those seven games where his spin resulted in making a play at or behind the line of scrimmage. Others, well…

It’s as if Nkedimche knew this half-assed spin wasn’t going to work and aborted halfway through. He’s late and predictable here, a look I saw more than a few times. Other times he pulls the Maybin and doesn’t wait for the blocker to commit one way or the other, and the blocker easily negates him. In situations like this one he’s better off trying a swim or pushing off to disengage. The hand/shoulder coordination aren’t always in concert, either.

The key to a good spin move is timing. It’s most effective when the defender can sense the weight imbalance of the blocker and exacerbate that with a quick, disorienting spin. Ideally he should spin away from the direction the blocker has shifted his weight, with as much quickness in his shoulders and hips as possible. Robert Mathis is the absolute master of this coming off the edge in the NFL. Tommie Harris did this quite well in his healthy Bears heyday as an attack tackle, which appears to be Nkemdiche’s likely NFL fate. He has the physical ability to be great at it, but he needs to master the timing and deployment rate.

Carriage

Nkemdiche’s third designated area for development is related to the first two. It’s not as obvious because the problem here only rears its ugly head every so often. Also, it’s a common problem for taller interior players: he must learn to keep his weight centered and pad level neither too high nor low.

There are more instances of No. 5 getting too upright upon contact, but some credit must go to the offensive linemen on those plays. Nkemdiche doesn’t naturally rise up out of his stance, and that’s a good thing. Yet he can look really bad when he overextends, sacrificing balance by thrusting out with his arms and shoulders too far over his hips and feet. Like on this play against TCU…

As noted above, this is not a consistent issue. Overall I would argue Nkemdiche is above-average in terms of keeping his low center of gravity and attacking with good bend and balance. That’s what makes it so noticeable when he doesn’t do it.

On plays where he does everything right, man is he a nightmare to block. Check out this play from the Egg Bowl:

Plays like that illustrate his considerable potential. He’s only played two years of college football and there is no indication he’s considering turning pro after his junior season. If he can’t improve upon his weaknesses in 2015, Nkedimche should return for his senior season. But if he can consistently clean up his weak points, progress as a tactician and add more functional bulk (if he’s staying inside in the NFL) the production numbers will spike and it will be hard to convince a potential Top-10 overall pick to stick around Oxford any longer.

]]>http://draftbreakdown.com/robert-nkemdiche-room-to-improve/feed/0Luke Easterling’s 2016 NFL Draft Watch Listhttp://draftbreakdown.com/luke-easterlings-2016-nfl-draft-watch-list/
http://draftbreakdown.com/luke-easterlings-2016-nfl-draft-watch-list/#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 18:50:48 +0000http://draftbreakdown.com/?p=255252With the start of the 2015 college football season just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at some of the top talent across the country who could end up being selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Every year, there are players who seem to come out of nowhere and vault themselves into the draft conversation. This list can be used as a starting point to try and identify who some of those players could be this year, in addition to some of the top names that are already being discussed at length.

Want to get a head start on your 2016 NFL Draft preparation? Here are 275 players to keep an eye on this fall.

Quarterback

Cardale Jones | Ohio State | 6-5, 250

Connor Cook | Michigan State | 6-4, 220

Jared Goff | California | 6-4, 210

Cody Kessler | USC | 6-1, 215

(read more...)]]>With the start of the 2015 college football season just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at some of the top talent across the country who could end up being selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Every year, there are players who seem to come out of nowhere and vault themselves into the draft conversation. This list can be used as a starting point to try and identify who some of those players could be this year, in addition to some of the top names that are already being discussed at length.

Want to get a head start on your 2016 NFL Draft preparation? Here are 275 players to keep an eye on this fall.

Quarterback

Cardale Jones | Ohio State | 6-5, 250

Connor Cook | Michigan State | 6-4, 220

Jared Goff | California | 6-4, 210

Cody Kessler | USC | 6-1, 215

Trevone Boykin | TCU | 6-1, 205

Christian Hackenberg | Penn State | 6-4, 234

Gunner Kiel | Cincinnati | 6-4, 208

Dak Prescott | Mississippi State | 6-2, 230

Carson Wentz | North Dakota State | 6-5, 231

Jeremy Johnson | Auburn | 6-5, 241

Patrick Towles | Kentucky | 6-5, 241

Paxton Lynch | Memphis | 6-7, 230

J.T. Barrett | Ohio State | 6-1, 223

Braxton Miller | Ohio State | 6-2, 216

Kevin Hogan | Stanford | 6-4, 225

Nate Sudfeld | Indiana | 6-6, 240

Jacoby Brissett | North Carolina State | 6-3, 235

]]>http://draftbreakdown.com/luke-easterlings-2016-nfl-draft-watch-list/feed/0NDT Scouting’s 2016 NFL Draft Running Back Starter Kithttp://draftbreakdown.com/ndt-scoutings-2016-nfl-draft-running-back-starter-kit/
http://draftbreakdown.com/ndt-scoutings-2016-nfl-draft-running-back-starter-kit/#commentsWed, 22 Jul 2015 17:48:49 +0000http://draftbreakdown.com/?p=255837For your consideration entering the 2015 college football season, NDT Scouting has compiled stats, bios and starter profiles for approximately 250 2016 NFL Draft prospects. Over the course of the next several weeks, “Starter kits” will be shared to provide you with all of your 2016 NFL Draft pre-season prep work! (Note: There are a number of underclassmen who are viable NFL Draft prospects but not included in these starter kits. It is not meant to reflect their caliber as players but rather be as efficient as possible in coverage of 2016 prospects.)

Running Backs Starter Kit: POSITION # NAME SCHOOL DOB YEAR NOTES LISTED MEASURES GAMES PLAYED GAMES STARTED CAPTAIN? (YES/NO) CAREER PRODUCTION NDT Scouting Early Thoughts RB 23 Devontae Booker Utah 5/27/1992 Senior JUCO 5110, 212 13 10 No 292 carries, 1512 yds, 10 TDs + 43 rec, 306 rec yds, 2 rec TDs Possesses an impressive blend (read more...)]]>For your consideration entering the 2015 college football season, NDT Scouting has compiled stats, bios and starter profiles for approximately 250 2016 NFL Draft prospects. Over the course of the next several weeks, “Starter kits” will be shared to provide you with all of your 2016 NFL Draft pre-season prep work!

(Note: There are a number of underclassmen who are viable NFL Draft prospects but not included in these starter kits. It is not meant to reflect their caliber as players but rather be as efficient as possible in coverage of 2016 prospects.)

Running Backs Starter Kit:

POSITION

#

NAME

SCHOOL

DOB

YEAR

NOTES

LISTED MEASURES

GAMES PLAYED

GAMES STARTED

CAPTAIN? (YES/NO)

CAREER PRODUCTION

NDT Scouting Early Thoughts

RB

23

Devontae Booker

Utah

5/27/1992

Senior

JUCO

5110, 212

13

10

No

292 carries, 1512 yds, 10 TDs + 43 rec, 306 rec yds, 2 rec TDs

Possesses an impressive blend of burst and physicality. All purpose back in just 2nd year in FBS. Has a bit of Jay Ajayi in his running style; physical one cut and go runner who displays strong balance.

RB

21

Tra Carson

Texas A&M

10/24/1992

RS Senior

(Oregon Transfer)

6000, 235

33

3

No

238 carries, 1164 yds, 13 TDs + 13 rec, 122 rec yds, 0 rec TDs

N/A

RB

6

Corey Clement

Wisconsin

11/2/1994

Junior

5110, 217

26

0

No

214 carries, 1496 yds, 16 TDs + 15 rec, 128 rec yds, 2 rec TDs

N/A

RB

3

Alex Collins

Arkansas

8/26/1994

Junior

5110, 214

25

2

No

394 carries, 2126 yds, 16 TDs + 14 rec, 72 rec yds, 0 rec TDs

N/A

RB

24

James Conner

Pittsburgh

5/5/1995

Junior

6020, 250

25

13

No

444 carries, 2564 yds, 34 TDs + 8 rec, 103 rec yds, 0 rec TDs

Impossibly thick back. Does not display open field explosiveness but does show ability to alter base to provide some elusiveness. Powerful but a high runner due to frame.

RB

28

Kenneth Dixon

Louisiana Tech

1/21/1994

Senior

5100, 212

36

22

No

604 carries, 3410 yds, 53 TDs + 54 rec, 505 rec yds, 8 rec TDs

One of more high mileage backs in prospective class. Impressive cut ability to generate poor tackle angles and does possess some burst in the open field.

RB

17

Kenyan Drake

Alabama

N/A

Senior

6010, 210

29

1

No

156 carries, 1087 yds, 17 TDs + 17 rec, 294 rec yds, 3 rec TDs

Plagued by ball security issues and suffered a horrendous injury in 2014 to end season early. Drake has more versatility and every down potential than teammate Derrick Henry but will need to prove he is healed and can put the ball away effectively.

RB

14

Trey Edmunds

Virginia Tech

12/30/1994

RS Junior

6010, 225

19

10

No

187 carries, 772 yds, 10 TDs + 19 rec, 150 rec yds, 2 rec TDs

N/A

RB

15

Ezekiel Elliott

Ohio State

7/22/1995

Junior

6000, 225

26

15

No

303 carries, 2140 yds, 20 TDs + 31 rec, 243 rec yds, 1 rec TD

Dominant centerpiece of OSU’s stretch run to 2015 National Title. Vision, cut ability, physical running stature, receiving ability and pull away speed are all considered plus traits. One of most complete backs of recent memory; complete stud.

RB

8

DJ Foster

Arizona State

N/A

Senior

5110, 195

40

14

No

389 carries, 2075 yds, 17 TDs + 163 rec, 1874 rec yds, 11 rec TDs

Versatile player who has moved to WR for Sun Devils in 2015 but career at next level is as a ball carrier. Smooth, quick athlete with strong hands. Reminds me of a Shane Vereen caliber back.

RB

32

Johnathan Gray

Texas

4/22/1993

Senior

5110, 207

35

13

No

455 carries, 2118 yds, 14 TDs + 46 rec, 334 rec yds, 1 rec TD

N/A

RB

22

Aaron Green

Texas Christian

10/15/1992

RS Senior

(Neb Transfer)

5110, 202

37

9

No

225 carries, 1259 yds, 11 TDs + 24 rec, 215 rec yds, 4 rec TDs

N/A

RB

27

Derrick Henry

Alabama

7/17/1994

Junior

6030, 242

37

9

No

207 carries, 1372 yds, 14 TDs + 6 rec, 194 rec yds, 3 rec TDs

Henry is a nightmare to tackle on the second level. Large frame leaves legs exposed to being chopped down but between the thighs and the numbers Henry rarely goes down via the first defender. Not the most fleet of foot but relative to size is impressive what he is able to do in the open field.

RB

34

Paul James

Rutgers

6/17/1993

RS Senior

6000, 205

15

12

No

224 carries, 1266 yds, 14 TDs + 15 rec, 227 rec yds, 2 rec TDs

Looked explosive in limited time in 2014 before suffering a season ending injury to knee. Quick, possesses long speed. Durability is a significant question mark, will dog him throughout the draft process.

RB

47

Devon Johnson

Marshall

7/28/1993

Senior

6010, 243

38

13

Yes

211 carries, 1780 yds, 20 TDs + 21 rec, 360 rec yds, 5 rec TDs

Former TE who converted to RB in 2014. Another power runner with little in the way of quick twitch ability but versatility and natural feel for carrying the ball should generate interest. Can prove much with another strong 2015 campaign.

RB

9

Byron Marshall

Oregon

N/A

Senior

5100, 200

37

27

No

307 carries, 1877 yds, 19 TDs + 88 rec, 1172 rec yds, 6 rec TDs

N/A

RB

4

Keith Marshall

Georgia

2/16/1992

Senior

5110, 212

22

2

No

185 carries, 1029 yds, 9 TDs + 20 rec, 197 rec yds, 2 rec TDs

N/A

RB

24

Paul Perkins

UCLA

11/16/1994

RS Junior

5110, 198

26

17

No

385 carries, 2148 yds, 15 TDs + 50 rec, 497 rec yds, 2 rec TDs

Was one of the better runners in the PAC 12 in 2014; strong contributor and showed off excellent foot speed and strong vision to generate yards in chunks. Finished season with a strong showing against Kansas State.

RB

26

Barry Sanders Jr

Stanford

4/10/1994

RS Junior

5100, 198

25

0

No

64 carries, 357 yds, 1 TD + 11 rec, 78 rec yds, 0 rec TD

Has struggled for playing time in spite of strong family pedigree and smash mouth offensive style. Look for increased opportunities before gauging pro potential.

RB

28

William Stanback

Central Florida

N/A

Junior

6010, 225

23

7

No

294 carries, 1140 yds, 16 TDs + 26 rec, 241 rec yds, 3 rec TDs

Struggled to rebound early on in season from a nagging groin injury but as a freshman in 2013 while spelling Storm Johnson was a devastating runner in the open field. Powerful build and runs compact, Stanback is able to quickly plant and cut or simply run through potential tacklers.

RB

32

Jonathan Williams

Arkansas

2/2/1994

Senior

6000, 223

36

24

No

406 carries, 2321 yds, 16 TDs + 26 rec, 345 rec yds, 6 rec TDs

N/A

RB

24

Storm Woods

Oregon State

3/6/1993

RS Senior

6000, 212

33

31

No

440 carries, 2183 yds, 24 TDs, + 111 rec, 932 rec yds, 2 rec TDs

Flying under the radar on account of offensive system and inability of OL to generate large holes; Woods is a slashing runner who does not do well in traffic or running between the tackles but is an excellent receiver and open field athlete.

By November 11th 2014, fresh off a 55-31 thrashing of then-tenth ranked Notre Dame, Arizona State had improved to 8-1 on the season, and climbed three spots to number six overall in the College Football Playoff standings. The following Saturday in Corvallis, linebacker Michael Doctor picked off a Taylor Kelly pass, and ran it in for a touchdown with just over a minute and a half left in the game, giving Pac 12 also-ran Oregon State a surprise win over the Sun Devils. Two weeks later, with CFP hopes all but dashed, ASU lost another Pac 12 road game – this time to in-state rival Arizona – and fell quietly into a December 27th Sun Bowl date with Duke. The Sun Devils saddled up and left disappointment in the rearview mirror. They held on tight for a five-point bowl victory, and secured back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time (read more...)]]>

By November 11th 2014, fresh off a 55-31 thrashing of then-tenth ranked Notre Dame, Arizona State had improved to 8-1 on the season, and climbed three spots to number six overall in the College Football Playoff standings. The following Saturday in Corvallis, linebacker Michael Doctor picked off a Taylor Kelly pass, and ran it in for a touchdown with just over a minute and a half left in the game, giving Pac 12 also-ran Oregon State a surprise win over the Sun Devils. Two weeks later, with CFP hopes all but dashed, ASU lost another Pac 12 road game – this time to in-state rival Arizona – and fell quietly into a December 27th Sun Bowl date with Duke. The Sun Devils saddled up and left disappointment in the rearview mirror. They held on tight for a five-point bowl victory, and secured back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time since 1971-72. The team also improved to 28-12 in three seasons under Head Coach Todd Graham, their best winning percentage under any coach since College Football Hall of Famer John Cooper led ASU to a 25-9-2 record in the mid-1980s. The 2015 Sun Devils have lost Kelly, star receiver Jaelen Strong, and a couple of key defenders. A third consecutive 10-win year looks like a tall order to fill. Still, Graham has built a competitive roster, and he’ll trot out plenty of draft-eligible talent this fall. Here’s a look. (Asterisks denote underclassmen)

Foster has been one of the team’s best all-purpose threats since stepping foot on campus. As a true freshman he rushed for 493 yards and two scores, and added 38 catches for 533 yards and four touchdowns receiving. Foster was named Honorable Mention All-Pac 12 as a sophomore after rushing for 523 yards, catching 63 passes for 653 yards, and scoring 10 total touchdowns, and he was a Second Team All-Conference selection after racking up 1769 yards from scrimmage last season. As a running back, Foster is on the small side, but he has the speed to turn the corner and quick feet to leave defenders grabbing at air once he gets out to the second level. He may not project as an every down runner in the pros, but his playmaking ability out of the backfield is a valuable enough commodity that Foster toyed with the idea of declaring for the 2015 draft. Perhaps due to the pass catching prowess he’s shown in amassing 163 receptions in 40 games, or maybe because of the departure of Strong, the Sun Devils apparently plan on listing Foster at receiver once the regular season begins. Still, this depth chart news may turn out to be much ado about nothing. It’s hard to imagine ASU whittling Foster’s carries down too much considering he’s probably the team’s best draft-eligible player, so it will be interesting to see how much his role truly changes. Regardless, by the end of the year Foster will have over 50 games on tape, and more than enough evidence of his versatility, quickness and reliable hands. That should be enough to attract attention in the late Day Two to early Day Three range of the draft.

Mike Bercovici QB 6’1” 204

Three-star recruit out of Woodland Hills, CA in 2011

2014 Stats: 115-186 (61.5%) 1445 YDS 12 TD 4 INT

After a small cup of coffee his freshman season, Bercovici took the rare sophomore redshirt and sat out all of 2012. He was back on the active roster the following year, but still barely saw the field. It wasn’t until last season’s Thursday night showdown against UCLA that the small, but strong-armed Bercovici made his first collegiate start, and he proceeded to throw for 488 yards and three TDs (and two picks) in a shootout loss. A week later against USC, Bercovici managed to one-up himself. He carved up the Trojans for 510 passing yards and five touchdowns without throwing a single interception. Those back-to-back performances led many to wonder whether he had stolen the starting job. But when Kelly returned from injury, Berco found himself back on the sidelines. Now, with Kelly gone, ASU will finally hand the keys to their fifth-year senior. Bercovici inherits an offense without a star receiver, so he will have to spread the ball early and find a new go-to guy. With Foster as his safety valve, there will still be plenty of opportunities for Bercovici to post big passing numbers this season. His arm strength and a productive, winning senior season could be enough to overcome his size limitations and earn him late round consideration next spring.

Westerman originally committed to Texas, but had a change of heart and enrolled at Auburn, where he redshirted in 2011. After winning a starting job, he was sidelined by a broken leg three games into the 2012 season, and opted to transfer to Arizona State that December. Westerman was allowed to play in the Sun Devils’ bowl game against Texas Tech the following season because more that a full calendar year had elapsed since he’d left Auburn. He spent last season as ASU’s starting left guard, and is expected to remain there this season. Westerman is widely regarded as the team’s best draft-eligible offensive lineman headed into the fall.

Other Players to Watch:

Jordan Simone S 6’ 193

Walked on at Washington State in 2011

2014 Stats: 100 TKL 4.5 TFL 1 SCK 1 FF 2 INT

Simone saw time on special teams as a freshman, but opted to transfer to ASU where his father Ronnie had played under Cooper in the ‘80s. After sitting for two seasons worth of Saturdays, Jordan earned a starting job last fall and finished second on the team in tackles.

Lloyd Carrington CB 6’ 194

Three-star recruit out of Dallas, TX in 2011

2014 Stats: 59 TKL 6 TFL 3 SCK 1 FF 1 INT (returned for a TD) 5 PBU

Carrington played seven games as a freshman at Pittsburgh in 2011, but decided to transfer to Arizona State to be closer to home. After sitting out the 2012 season and playing a backup role in 2013, Carrington became one of the Sun Devils’ starting corners last year and earned an Honorable Mention on the all-conference team.

Kweishi Brown CB 6’ 206

Three-star recruit out of El Cajon, CA in 2014

2014 Stats: 46 TKL 2 TFL 1 FF 3 INT 6 PBU

Brown racked up 11 interceptions in two years at Grossman Community College before transferring to Arizona State. He saw spot-starter action last season and will move into a full-time role as a senior.

Nick Kelly C 6’2” 294

Three-star recruit out of American River Community College in Sacramento, CA in 2013

The undersized Juco transfer spent his first year at ASU as a reserve, but by last season Kelly had become the team’s starting center. He is expected to resume those duties as a senior this season.

Vi Teofilo G 6’3” 304

Three-star recruit out of Phoenix, AZ in 2011

Teofilo started three games as a redshirt freshman in 2012, and has held down the right guard position for the last two seasons. The fifth-year senior suffered an ACL injury in the team’s bowl game last year, but has expressed confidence that he will be ready to go by fall.

Antonio Longino LB 6’2” 229

Three-star recruit out of Hutchinson, KA in 2013

2014 Stats: 94 TKL 6 TFL 2 SCK 1 QBH 1 FF 2 PBU 1 fumble return TD

The East Cleveland, Ohio native came to Arizona State via the junior college ranks and spent a year as a reserve before cracking the starting lineup last year.

Salamo Fiso LB 6’1” 236*

Three-star recruit out of Long Beach, CA in 2012

2014 Stats: 83 TKL 11 TFL 3.5 SCK 1 INT

Fiso finished second on the team in tackles for loss and earned an Honorable Mention on the All-Pac 12 team last year as a redshirt sophomore.

Devin Lucien WR 6’1” 200

Four-star recruit out of Encino, CA in 2011

2014 Stats: 29 REC 225 YDS 7.8 AVG 2 TD

Lucien enrolled at UCLA and redshirted in 2011. He went on to catch 58 passes over the next three seasons, but moved on to ASU this year where, as a graduate transfer, he will be eligible to play immediately. With Strong gone to the NFL, Lucien has a prime opportunity to earn a major role in the passing game.

]]>http://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-prospect-preview-arizona-state-sun-devils/feed/02016 NFL Draft Trait Based Scouting: Carson Wentz (QB, NDSU)http://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-trait-based-scouting-carson-wentz-qb-ndsu/
http://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-trait-based-scouting-carson-wentz-qb-ndsu/#commentsTue, 21 Jul 2015 16:26:31 +0000http://draftbreakdown.com/?p=255713A prospect who is has been creating a lot of buzz on “Draft Twitter” recently is North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz, and the appeal is obvious. He’s a big kid with a live arm and sound decision making. He’s coming off his first year as a starter in which he led the Bison to their fourth consecutive FCS championship (the first quarterback from the state of North Dakota to do so.) Wentz possesses prototypical height for an NFL QB, although he could stand to add some bulk throughout the next year if he wants to hold up at the next level.

A prospect who is has been creating a lot of buzz on “Draft Twitter” recently is North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz, and the appeal is obvious. He’s a big kid with a live arm and sound decision making. He’s coming off his first year as a starter in which he led the Bison to their fourth consecutive FCS championship (the first quarterback from the state of North Dakota to do so.) Wentz possesses prototypical height for an NFL QB, although he could stand to add some bulk throughout the next year if he wants to hold up at the next level.

Name: Carson Wentz

College: North Dakota State University

Number: 11

Pro Position: QB

Height: 6’6’’

Weight: 231 pounds

Age: 22

Date of Birth: 12/30/1992

Background: Wentz enters his RS Senior season after one year as a starter at NDSU, led team as a captain to a 15-1 record and FCS championship in 2014. Set school record for attempts, completions and yards in 2014. Elite height for the position, skinny build with solid athletic ability, good explosiveness and COD ability with adequate quick twitch in space.

Pro section: Moves out from center quickly, sets up and gets his eyes downfield at the back of his drop. He’s a very good decision maker, once he identifies the open receiver he wastes no time moving into his delivery. Limits risks while throwing the football in all areas of the field, checks down when receivers are covered and takes advantage of one on one coverage on deep throws. Throwing motion is quick and efficient when throwing to the short and intermediate part of the field. Very good arm strength to work all areas of the field, has natural arm strength and lower body torque that puts little to no air under the ball when throwing over the middle as well as deep in the field. Very good accuracy, shows the ability to throw into tight windows in short and intermediate areas, especially on out breaking routes, because of his rare arm strength. Good ability to work the deep area of the field, especially down the seam with his arm strength and placement that allows only his player to make a play on the ball. Stands tall under pressure and displays a willingness to take a hit while throwing the ball. Good ability to extend plays outside the pocket, gets out of pressure and has athletic ability to challenge the defense as a runner. Has very good accuracy while throwing on the run on designed boots, product of his arm strength and torque. Has solid play strength to work through tackles in the open field because of his size and athleticism. Clear leader, elected a captain in his first year as a starter, plays with fire and competitive edge on the field.

Con section: Struggles to work multiple reads, only looks to one or two receivers before checking down to his running back. Below average footwork when throwing to the short part of the field, sets his feet and fails to step into his throws which causes inconsistencies in accuracy, especially in the red zone. Elongates his motion when he throws deep, squats his body down a bit and takes longer to get the ball out of his hands. Marginal accuracy throwing deep along the sidelines, over reliance on arm strength leads to the inability to drop the ball over the top with touch. Poor ability to extend plays from within the pocket, sets his feet at the back of his drop and fails to climb the ladder to avoid pressure with his eyes downfield. When he does move in the pocket he will drop his eyes and look to run rather than keeping his eyes downfield. Minimal ball security as a runner, holds the ball away from his body and allows it to constantly be knocked out by defenders.

Projection: Overall, a starter at the NFL level who would benefit from a year of sitting on the bench to develop his mental processing of NFL defenses and coverage schemes. Has the prototypical size, arm strength and accuracy to be a top tier QB at the next level. Must improve his ability to move within the pocket, mental processing and ball security to be a consistent starter at the next level.

Right now I see him as a mid-Day 2 pick, but obviously a lot can change in the upcoming season. Wentz displayed impressive accuracy and arm strength for a first time starter at a FCS school, and I think those traits along with his size and athleticism could make him an appealing pick for some QB-needy NFL teams. If he improves his ability to quickly read defenses, which could very well happen in his second year as a starter at NDSU, Wentz could become a fascinating prospect to watch for in the 2016 Draft as teams weigh his natural physical traits and ability against the level of competition he faced in college.

]]>http://draftbreakdown.com/2016-nfl-draft-trait-based-scouting-carson-wentz-qb-ndsu/feed/0Early 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Christian Hackenberghttp://draftbreakdown.com/early-2016-nfl-draft-scouting-report-qb-christian-hackenberg/
http://draftbreakdown.com/early-2016-nfl-draft-scouting-report-qb-christian-hackenberg/#commentsTue, 21 Jul 2015 01:39:25 +0000http://draftbreakdown.com/?p=255721Coming off of a historically poor 2015 quarterback draft class, it would be hard for the 2016 draft to be any worse at the position. Indeed, next year’s draft appears to be much stronger than this year’s class when it comes to quarterbacks with guys like Connor Cook, Jared Goff, and Christian Hackenberg all looking like potentially special prospects, and several others behind those top three guys looking like solid professional players in the making. If you really want to know which guys you should follow going into the 2015 college football season, I highly recommend checking out Luke Easterling‘s 2016 NFL Draft watch list. With that said, Hackenberg, in particular, has caught my eye, and actually ranks as my top-rated quarterback going into the season. Without further ado, let’s take a look at what makes Hackenberg such an intriguing prospect.

Coming off of a historically poor 2015 quarterback draft class, it would be hard for the 2016 draft to be any worse at the position. Indeed, next year’s draft appears to be much stronger than this year’s class when it comes to quarterbacks with guys like Connor Cook, Jared Goff, and Christian Hackenberg all looking like potentially special prospects, and several others behind those top three guys looking like solid professional players in the making. If you really want to know which guys you should follow going into the 2015 college football season, I highly recommend checking out Luke Easterling‘s 2016 NFL Draft watch list. With that said, Hackenberg, in particular, has caught my eye, and actually ranks as my top-rated quarterback going into the season. Without further ado, let’s take a look at what makes Hackenberg such an intriguing prospect.

There’s almost no doubt that Hackenberg is a very talented prospect. That’s almost universally agreed upon in the draft community. Whether you’re a fan of Hackenberg or not, it’s hard not to notice his natural talent. He’s got prototypical size at 6’4″ 220 pounds, and he has more than enough arm strength to succeed in the NFL. Despite playing behind a shaky-at-best offensive line and throwing to a mostly subpar receiving core, Hackenberg still found a way to make some plays other quarterbacks can only dream of. He goes through his reads better than most young quarterbacks and is much more athletic than he’s given credit for. He’s not Cam Newton, but Hackenberg has more than enough mobility to extend a play or pick up yards with his legs.

For as talented as he is, however, there are clear flaws in Hackenberg’s game. After tossing 20 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions as a freshman under Bill O’Brien, Hackenberg regressed last season, throwing 12 touchdowns and 15 interceptions under James Franklin. A few of those interceptions weren’t totally Hackenberg’s fault, but plenty of them were. There were times when Hackenberg threw into double or triple coverage or failed to recognize a safety roaming over the top, and that led to turnovers. The thing that I really dislike most about Hackenberg’s game, however, is his tendency to get lazy with his footwork and mechanics. Too often Hackenberg stands flat-footed in the pocket or allows his mechanics to break down, and that leads to inexcusable mistakes.

Overall, Hackenberg has more than enough to become a franchise quarterback at the next level. If he can rebound in his junior season, it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see Hackenberg go in the top ten, and perhaps even the top five. That said, he needs to clean up his mechanics and work on reading defensive coverages better if he truly has any hope of becoming the player his talent level would suggest.

Strengths:

Excellent arm strength

Generally goes through his reads

Mostly above-average accuracy

Prototypical size

Decent athleticism and mobility

Weaknesses:

Decision-making is shaky

Regressed from freshman year

Gets way too lazy with footwork and mechanics

Bottom Line:

If he can clean up some of the smaller technical aspects of his game and start to read coverages better, Hackenberg could be an excellent quarterback in the NFL. His natural talent is undeniable, and in a league that’s always looking for the next great quarterback, Hackenberg could make a great case for himself as just that with a strong junior season.